The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
First-aider tells of bid to save man following suspected overdose
Sean tells of performing emergency CPR at city underpass as he feared drugs victim about to die
A first aid trainer has spoken of the moment he helped to save the life of a suspected overdose victim outside his Dundee flat.
Sean Duffy, who runs First Stop Safety Training with his wife Robyn, chanced on the barely responsive man in the Cowgate.
The 31-year-old was walking from his flat on King Street on Friday when he realised the man, who had been accompanied by two women, needed urgent medical attention.
His breathing was very weak and so Sean swiftly began chest compressions in an attempt to restore circulation.
Sean, who is originally from Portobello in Edinburgh, said he went into “auto-pilot”, adding it was “pure luck” he had been leaving his home at the exact time he was needed.
He said: “I think it was at least five minutes I was performing CPR but time is so difficult to judge in a situation like that.
“He was in the recovery position but his chest was not moving up so I knew he needed CPR. I was really surprised to learn he survived because he was in a bad way.
“I was going golfing but my tee-off time had been delayed. I actually just decided to leave at the same time, anyway, so it was pure luck I was there.”
Other passersby had tried to help the man, in his mid-30s, with one calling an ambulance, which arrived around 20 minutes later.
Sean was unable to give mouth-tomouth due to the risk of Covid-19 but, despite becoming tired, managed to continue until the Scottish Ambulance Service arrived.
Paramedics then asked those nearby to leave the scene around the underpass, meaning Sean only found out a few days later the man had survived.
It is the third time Sean has encountered someone lying in the street in need of help in just a year-and-a-half of living in Dundee.
He said the incident shows just how crucial it can be to have lifesaving skills.
“I always say to those I teach that it’s better to do something than nothing and they’ll be surprised at what they can remember from their training.
“The adrenaline kicks in and you focus on potentially saving someone’s life.
“This kind of training should start from school age. If we can start them early, soon enough we will have firstaiders walking the streets everywhere.”
His comments come after The Courier launched its First Aid Kids campaign, calling for first aid training as a mandatory part of the Curriculum for Excellence.
He was in the recovery position but his chest was not moving up so I knew he needed CPR. I was really surprised to learn he survived. SEAN DUFFY